Chain-propeller for vessels



(No Model.)

F. M. SMITH.

GHAIN PROPELLER FOR VESSELS.

No. 394,732. Patented D8838, 1888..

"WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN MONROE SMITH, OF LEAPER, OHIO.

CHAlN-PROPELLER FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,782, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed June 13, 1888. Serial No. 277,010. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN MoNRoE SMITH, of the town of Leaper, county of Gallia, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Propellers, of which the following is a specification.

M y invention is an improvement in that class of propellers in which paddles are attached to endless chains passing around sprocket-wheels; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of the paddles with the chains, whereby the paddles are braced and held in proper position to secure a hold upon the water, and are also enabled to travel around the curved path in turning the sprocket-wheels with the least friction and cramping strains.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the propeller; Fig. 2, an end elevation, and Fig. 3'an edge View of one of the propeller-blades.

A A represent two shafts arranged parallel to each 0therone near the bow and the other near the stern-and connected to any suitable power for rotating them. These shafts each carry the sprocketwheels B B, and. the two sprocket-wheels of one shaft are connected to the two sprocketwheels of the other shaft by the endless chains 0 0, whose open links receive the sprocket-wheels. Upon. these two chains are secured a series of paddles, I). These paddles have each 7 end attached to a post, D, one post at one end of the paddle being connected to one chain and the other post at the other end being connected to the other chain. This connection is made by cars or flanges a a on the posts, which are perforated to receive pins or studs b Z), formed on the sides of the links of the chain, thus making a jointed connection. To hold the paddle at right angles to the chain, so as to give it a proper purchase or hold against the water, brace-rods D D are used on each side of both ends of the paddle. These pairs of brace-rods are jointed at their lower ends upon pins or studs b 1), formed on the links of the chains a short distance from the paddle, and, converging or inclining toward the paddle at their outer ends, are rigidly connected to metal blocks D D which rest against the opposite sides of the end posts of the paddles, and are connected by a cross-bar, D, that passes through a longitudinal slot in each end post. These blocks and braces serve to hold the paddle at right angles to the chains, and atthe same time when the paddle is passing around the curve of the sprocketwheels the blocks and cross-bar D D are permitted to move toward the center by reason of the stops in the end posts, thus avoiding all cramping strains on the bracerods. Vith this construction of propeller I am enabled to get a inuch'larger bearing on the water than a plain wheel will give, and at the same time the propeller is made to work freely without the disadvantage of friction and cramping.

This form of propeller also permits the ra-- dius of the paddles to be lessened, thus enabling the engine to exert a greater power of propulsion. The paddles also enter and leave the water better, and the paddles may be placed farther apart, so that they do not carry dead-water.

Instead of using my device as a propeller for boats, I may fix it in a stationary frame in a running stream and use it to the same advantage as a current or water wheel for supplying power.

I do not claim, broadly, an endless-chain propeller.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A propeller consisting of the combination of shafts bearing sprocket-wheels, two endless chains, a series of paddles connected at right angles to the chains, and brace-rods jointed to the chains on each side of eachend of the paddles, and having a sliding bearing against the end sections of the paddles, soto move inwardly and compensate for the turn of the curve around the sprocket-wheels,

as described.

2. The propeller herein described, consistingjof a set of sprocket-wheels with endless chains revolving around the same, paddles D, having end posts, I), jointed to the chains and having longitudinal slots at their outer ends, the inclined brace-rods D D jointed to the chains on each side of the paddle and having at their upper ends blocks D D and a cross-bar, D playing in the slots of the end posts, and rigidly connecting the two blocks D D at each end of the paddle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FRANKLIN MONROE SMITH. lVitnesses:

ALFRED F. MooRE, CHARLES M. SMITH. 

